There is a lot to learn in the realm of personal finance — and sometimes trying to figure it all out feels like a crash course in reality. You are forced to figure out a debt repayment strategy only after you’ve already racked up student loan debt or gotten hit by a surprise medical bill. You only get versed in Mortgage 101 once you put in an offer on a house.

The good news is, there are resources out there that can teach you what you need to know before it happens. Whether you are hoping to build a budget and get your debt under control or dream of amassing enough wealth to successfully retire, there is a personal finance book for you. These five books are some of the most frequently recommended, and won’t inundate you with indecipherable financial jargon or put you to sleep. 

1. ‘Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole’ by Tiffany Aliche